Re: What is the surface of planet saturn look like?

Date: Thu Aug 30 13:43:58 2001
Posted By: Nicolle Zellner, Grad student, Studies of the Origin of Life/Astrobiology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Area of science: Astronomy
ID: 998848916.As

Message:

Saturn doesn't actually have a surface and is classified as a gas planet because it is mostly made up of gas, 75% hydrogen (H) and 25% helium (He). This is because it was formed in the part of the Solar Nebula that was mostly gas. It's thought that the heavier elements, such as iron (Fe) and other terrestrial material, fell into the part of the Solar System where Mars and Earth (called terrestrial planets) exist. Since they are "heavy elements", they couldn't exist where the gas giants are now found. Additionally, since Saturn is so large, it has a large gravitational field and so was able to "hold onto" all the lightest gases.

Saturn's interior consists of a rocky core, a liquid metallic hydrogen layer and a molecular hydrogen layer. Traces of various ices are also present. Saturn's massive atmosphere keeps the pressure very high on these areas of Saturn and so each is in a sort of liquid state. Therefore, it has no surface.

For more information on Saturn, see
http://www.solarviews.com/eng/vgrsat.htm#saturn
http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/nineplanets/nineplanets/saturn.html

"Moons and Planets" by W.K. Hartmann, 4th Edition, 1999, Wadsworth Publishing Company.

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